Clijsters enjoys mental strength

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Belgium's Clijsters had not played at Flushing Meadows since winning the 2005 title but armed with a wild card in her third tournament since returning to the game, the 26-year-old reached the quarter-finals with a 6-0 0-6 6-4 victory over the two-time champion from the United States in an hour and 42 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Clijsters said her performance in a "weird" match meant she was unable to measure herself against one of the biggest names in tennis but there were still plenty of positives to take out of the victory.

"I know that Venus wasn't playing her best tennis so its hard to compare anything in today's match," Clijsters said, "but there's a lot of other things personally that I'm taking out of this.

"Just the mental strength that I kept focusing on and, although in that second set I wasn't hitting the ball I was just trying to regroup."

"She played really well and hit a lot of great shots," Williams said in an interview with the WTA Tour."

Next opponent Li Na took care of 24th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy in straight sets 6-2 6-3 and while Venus took her leave, younger sister and second seed Serena Williams bludgeoned her way into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets destruction of Daniela Hantuchova.

Williams will next be up against 10th seed Flavia Pennetta, a 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 winner over a temperamental Vera Zvonareva of Russia despite facing six match points.

Italy's Pennetta and the seventh seed served up an epic 12th game in the second set as the Italian saved four match points to force a tie-break. Pennetta had to save two more, all six of them with winners, before taking the tie-break 8-6 and forcing a deciding set.